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Barcodes

Barcodes

Barcode technology is used to store information about products, items, or data, and can be easily read by machines called barcode scanners or barcode readers. Barcodes simplify the process of tracking, identifying, and managing products in various industries, from retail to logistics.

1. 1D Barcodes (Linear Barcodes)

  • These barcodes consist of a series of vertical bars and spaces. The bars represent numbers or characters.
  • The most common type of 1D Barcodes is UPC (Universal Product Code) that you will find on many retail items in the United States.
  • Code 128 & 39 barcodes are commonly used in many warehouses and industrial applications
  • They can only store a limited amount of information (typically numeric data and a small amount of text), and the data is read horizontally.

2. 2D Barcodes (Matrix Barcodes)

  • These barcodes use two dimensions to encode data, meaning the data is arranged both horizontally and vertically.
  • They can store much more information than 1D barcodes.  A 1D barcode can store 85 characters while the 2D code can store over 7,000.
  • The most common type of 2D Barcodes is QR Codes (Quick Response Code),  Popular for smartphones, QR codes can store URLs, contact info, or even small documents.
  • Data Matrix codes Often used in industries like electronics and healthcare for small items.
  • 2D codes can be scanned at small sizes and include built-in error correction, allowing for successful scanning even if a small section is damaged or absent. Sometimes up to 30% of errors are corrected!

The Challenge of Printing Barcode Labels

Zinga Labels understands the unique challenges facing companies and individuals hoping to print barcode labels for their products. Although many people understand the need, they lack the time or, in certain situations, the technical know-how to print barcodes.  Some customers need a long sequence of sequential barcodes to be printed on specific label materials that fit specific applications.  Other customers might need unique non-sequential barcodes to correspond with a large variety of different products.   We enjoy a challenge, no matter how complicated the job is!